Butterflies in the City
The Results are in for the
16th Annual
San Francisco Butterfly Count!
From Liam O'Brien
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| Tiger Swallowtail Photo by Ruth Gravanis |
Mylitta Crescent Photo by Ruth Gravanis |
Red Admiral Photo by Ruth Gravanis |
"We were up against yet another wicked onshore marine layer for our count, which occurred last Monday, June 7th, 2010. No chance of canceling it that morning when I showed up to the Randall Museum with so many eager lepidopterists. 14 parties of 34 participants (new record) saw on this day throughout our fair county: Western Tiger Swallowtail (P. rutulus) -- 15, Anise Swallowtail (P. zelicaon) --58, Pipevine Swallowtail (B. philenor) - 5, Cabbage White (P. rapae) -- 314, Large Marble (E. ausonides) -- 1, Orange Sulphur (C. eurytheme) -- 12, Gray Hairstreak (S. melinus)-- 1, Spring Azure/Echo Blue - (C. ladon echo) -- 5, Acmon Blue (P. acmon) -- 41, Gulf Fritillary( A. vanillae) -- 5, Field Crescent (P. campestris)-- 32, Mylitta's Crescent (P. mylitta) - 2, 'Chalcedon' Variable Checkerspot (E. chalcedona) -- 12, California Tortoiseshell (N. californica) - 2, American Painted Lady (V. virginiensis) -- 10, Painted Lady (V. cardui) - 3, West Coast Painted Lady (V. anna-bella) -- 23, Red Admiral (V. atalanta)-- 19, Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia) -- 10, 'California' Common Ringlet (C. tullia californica) -- 45, Common Checkered Skipper (P. communis)-- 10, Fiery Skipper (Hylephilia phyleus) -- 1, Sandhill Skipper (Polites sabuleti) - 40, Umber Skipper (P. melane) -- 80. Unid. Ladies: 15, Unid. Nymphalids: 9, Unid. Hesperids: 5. Total species: 24 (old record 22), Total individuals: 775 (old record 645 in 2008) and the Participants exploded to 34 -- old record: 18.
So... regrets many of the teams working the west side got slammed by that marine layer, but hopefully you can take solace that you were part of a record-setting day. I'm so proud SO MANY stepped up to their butterflying this day. Look what we can do for them once a year!!!"
Check out the Bay Nature article about the SF Butterfly Count!
